Health clinic coming to N. Powder

Students and residents in North Powder will soon be able to see a medical provider without driving to Baker City or La Grande.

Through a partnership between Powder Valley School and Eastern Oregon Medical Associates in Baker City, the school clinic will be reopened this fall. The students decided to name it the Badger Aid Health Clinic.

The clinic was originally operated on grant money by Oregon Health and Sciences University. But that money started dwindling several years ago.

“As the grant money went away, the cost to the school district kept climbing,” said Lance Dixon, superintendent at Powder Valley.

Soon the clinic was staffed only half a day. It closed about two years ago.

Powder science teacher Brian Wachs spoke to Dr. Jon Schott at EOMA about starting a program to help students learn CPR, first aid and basic EMT training.

Wachs has since moved away, but the idea stayed.

“Dr. Schott didn’t let go of that idea and contacted me last year,” Dixon said.

In addition to medical services, the clinic will give students an opportunity to job shadow doctors and nurses, or learn more about running a medical office (technology, billing, etc.).

“That’s the part that’s unique,” Schott said.

Powder Valley is a charter school, and Dixon said they want to become a STEM school, focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Medical education isn’t new at Powder Valley — in 2008 seven students went through a class to earn a CNA license.

Dixon said being a charter school allows “the opportunity to think outside the box.”

“Going charter caused a group to start thinking about what they can do that’s innovative,” he said.

The chance to work with health care professionals in the clinic is a way to offer real-world experience.

“Part of our goal is to give kids hands-on, applied learning,” Dixon said.

In the classroom, students interested in medicine can now take anatomy and physiology.

“When they get to the college level of anatomy and physiology, it’ll give them that much more confidence,” Dixon said.

The initial plan is for Dr. William Irvine from EOMA to staff the clinic for eight hours a week — either one full day or two half days.

The schedule will be based on demand.

“We’ll be here as many days as the community needs us,” Irvine said.

The clinic will offer acute care (stitches, sprains, strains, etc.), chronic disease management and maybe obstetrics, eventually.

“Saving them a trip to Baker or La Grande would be nice,” Irvine said.

By contracting with EOMA, the clinic will be able to send claims to patients’ insurance providers.

Dixon said the students interested in learning more about the medical field will have flexible schedule so they can be involved when the clinic is open. Also, those students will be able to spend time at the EOMA office in Baker City.

“I have kids who already want their name on the list,” Dixon said.

Schott said this opportunity isn’t just for future doctors and nurses — the basics of medicine can apply to occupational therapy, physical therapy, even veterinary science.

“The idea is to take advantage of kids’ interests,” he said.

He admits, with a smile, that this program is a bit self-serving for the local medical community if the students return after completing their education.

“If we can keep them interested and tied to their community, they’re more likely to stay,” Schott said.